Written by: Katyayani Mishra
Paradoxes of society & art
Society is paradoxical. On one end, it expects you to follow our dreams and what our hearts desire; on the other end, it expects us to bend and become conventional. At some point, you would be appreciated for your vulnerability over logic, and at other times, they would love your logical mind and explanation. The very reason why art is appreciated so differently. You are expected to be a part of the rat race- chasing the conventional dreams that are common to all, and become shallow.
Anger & Hurt as a Medium of Expression
Expression comes from within. It comes from a place of anger and angst. When you are hurt, you are willing to question things happening around you and to you, which is why you create the best art. Which is why it is said, when you are hurt, you create some of the best writing pieces. Art is a medium through which you grow, and it can be painful and uncomfortable because it is not easy. It is unsettling to move out of a place of comfort to a new space of awakening. Take music, for example, we have all been there, a place where you grow out of your comfort genre of music to a space where you are forced to try out something new.
Art as an introspection
It pushes you to confront why you are stuck in the same place, and it also allows you to think and grow. The only way in which you can learn so much about fashion, food, culture, different societies, aspects of poverty and economy, outer space, wars, and so much more. Take cinema, for example, a wider spectrum through which the audience learns and grows. Cinema has more reach to people; it has the power to move you, trigger you, and awaken you. The love for art remains even in times of turmoil; people still afford to have the means to watch a film. That’s the way it has a hold over you.
Changing Face of Art
I think over the years, art has become a business, reduced to a product to be sold to people. It has moved past that human experience that you get when you watch something or read something. Art makes you realise how times have changed, society has transformed, and what has happened globally. Yet, it has been the most questioned medium of expression. Why do you think books are being banned globally? Why do you think fantasy books were deprived of women’s reach?
The Power of Creation
Anything that is created has power. Creation is intelligence. It shows the extent to which vivid imagination can come true if used the right way. Take the example of the atomic bomb; it was created, and it had the power to destroy lives (which was well proven). Art is as powerful as science, even though they don’t see eye to eye. If one allows society to grow, the other allows society to breathe.
Can Art be defined or quantified?
Art is not just something that you come across at leisure; humans come across what art is when they are going through something, a phase in their lives that pushes them to seek out something deeper, and that’s what art gives you, a space to break down, rebuild and come back again stronger with a newfound strength. So, what is art? Art doesn’t have to be understood, yet it can’t be misunderstood. Art can make you uncomfortable when it shows you realities and the truth of life, about yourself, and society. Art is a mirror, and that’s the reason why you are specific about what you like, love, and dislike.
Subjective Nature of Art
Art is personal. When analysed, it shows the psychology of choice. You choose what you like in art, and what about it you love. The very reason why I finally understood what that quote means is how many times do we come across our art from our past lives? How often have you come across something that has moved and touched you, and you wonder why you love it?
Longevity of Art
Art lives on even after centuries; we still remember the various philosophers and artists. We are the Music Makers, an ode that talks about the longevity of art and creation. A single pen has the power of spreading ideas and propaganda, a single voice can trigger millions in society and calm their minds down. Art isn’t just supposed to be beautiful and touching; it can anger you, make you question, and confront all your demons. Art isn’t just a brush stroke or a beat; it’s a lot more layered and metaphorical.
Diverse & Inclusive
Art is inclusion; it unites people together, and the beauty of it lies in the way it becomes a beacon of hope. In terms of turmoil, people resort to art. It’s the very reason why art in war conflict zones or areas is moving and touching. The reason why I love authors from the Middle East, their stories aren’t just a reflection of their culture, but they have history, religion, and oppression as the setting, which sets it apart because it focuses on bringing emotions in the novel through the characters- Kite Runner by Khalid Hossein is one such example.
In the end, art is not merely a creation; it is a conversation between the world and the self. It grows with us, challenges us, breaks us, and rebuilds us in ways we often fail to articulate. It is the quiet force that keeps humanity tender in a world that constantly demands hardness. Art teaches us to feel when society teaches us to function. It reminds us that even in chaos, there is meaning; even in despair, there is beauty; and even in silence, there is a story waiting to be told.
Art is the thread that binds generations, cultures, and emotions into a shared human experience. It is where vulnerability and strength coexist, where imagination becomes truth, and where expression becomes liberation. To experience art is to experience ourselves as raw, evolving, and unafraid. And perhaps that is its greatest purpose: to remind us that no matter how much the world changes, the need to create, to feel, and to make meaning will always remain. Art lives because we do, and through it, we live a little more fully.
